1AndG2532 I heardG191 a greatG3173 voiceG5456 out ofG1537 the templeG3485 sayingG3004 to the sevenG2033 angelsG32, GoG5217, andG2532 pour outG1632 the vialsG5357 of the wrathG2372 of GodG2316 uponG1519 the earthG1093. 2AndG2532 the firstG4413 wentG565, andG2532 poured outG1632 hisG846 vialG5357 uponG1909 the earthG1093; andG2532 there fellG1096 a foulG2556 andG2532 loathsomeG4190 soreG1668 uponG1519 the menG444 whoG3588 hadG2192 the markG5480 of the beastG2342, andG2532 upon them who worshippedG4352 hisG846 imageG1504. 3AndG2532 the secondG1208 angelG32 poured outG1632 hisG846 vialG5357 uponG1519 the seaG2281; andG2532 it becameG1096 asG5613 the bloodG129 of a deadG3498 man: andG2532 everyG3956 livingG2198 soulG5590 diedG599 inG1722 the seaG2281. 4AndG2532 the thirdG5154 angelG32 poured outG1632 hisG846 vialG5357 uponG1519 the riversG4215 andG2532 G1519 fountainsG4077 of watersG5204; andG2532 they becameG1096 bloodG129. 5AndG2532 I heardG191 the angelG32 of the watersG5204 sayG3004, Thou artG1488 righteousG1342, O LordG2962, whoG3588 artG5607 G3801, andG2532 wastG2258 G3801, andG2532 shalt beG3741 G3801, becauseG3754 thou hast judgedG2919 thusG5023. 6ForG3754 they have shedG1632 the bloodG129 of saintsG40 andG2532 prophetsG4396, andG2532 thou hast givenG1325 themG846 bloodG129 to drinkG4095; forG1063 they areG1526 worthyG514. 7AndG2532 I heardG191 anotherG243 fromG1537 the altarG2379 sayG3004, Even soG3483, LordG2962 GodG2316 AlmightyG3841, trueG228 andG2532 righteousG1342 are thyG4675 judgmentsG2920. 8AndG2532 the fourthG5067 angelG32 poured outG1632 hisG846 vialG5357 uponG1909 the sunG2246; andG2532 power was givenG1325 to himG846 to scorchG2739 menG444 withG1722 fireG4442. 9AndG2532 menG444 were scorchedG2739 with greatG3173 heatG2738, andG2532 blasphemedG987 the nameG3686 of GodG2316, whoG3588 hathG2192 powerG1849 overG1909 theseG5025 plaguesG4127: andG2532 they repentedG3340 notG3756 to giveG1325 himG846 gloryG1391. 10AndG2532 the fifthG3991 angelG32 poured outG1632 hisG846 vialG5357 uponG1909 the throneG2362 of the beastG2342; andG2532 hisG846 kingdomG932 wasG1096 full of darknessG4656; andG2532 they gnawedG3145 theirG846 tonguesG1100 forG1537 painG4192, 11AndG2532 blasphemedG987 the GodG2316 of heavenG3772 because ofG1537 theirG846 painsG4192 andG2532 G1537 theirG846 soresG1668, andG2532 repentedG3340 notG3756 ofG1537 theirG846 deedsG2041. 12AndG2532 the sixthG1623 angelG32 poured outG1632 hisG846 vialG5357 uponG1909 the greatG3173 riverG4215 EuphratesG2166; andG2532 itsG846 waterG5204 was dried upG3583, thatG2443 the wayG3598 of the kingsG935 ofG575 the eastG395 G2246 might be preparedG2090. 13AndG2532 I sawG1492 threeG5140 uncleanG169 spiritsG4151 likeG3664 frogsG944 come out ofG1537 the mouthG4750 of the dragonG1404, andG2532 out ofG1537 the mouthG4750 of the beastG2342, andG2532 out ofG1537 the mouthG4750 of the false prophetG5578. 14ForG1063 they areG1526 the spiritsG4151 of demonsG1142, workingG4160 miraclesG4592, which go forthG3739 G1607 toG1909 the kingsG935 of the earthG1093 andG2532 of the wholeG3650 worldG3625, to gatherG4863 themG846 toG1519 the battleG4171 of thatG1565 greatG3173 dayG2250 of GodG2316 AlmightyG3841. 15BeholdG2400, I comeG2064 asG5613 a thiefG2812. BlessedG3107 is he that watchethG1127, andG2532 keepethG5083 hisG846 garmentsG2440, lestG3363 he walkG4043 nakedG1131, andG2532 they seeG991 hisG846 shameG808. 16AndG2532 he gatheredG4863 themG846 togetherG4863 intoG1519 a placeG5117 calledG2564 in the Hebrew tongueG1447 ArmageddonG717. 17AndG2532 the seventhG1442 angelG32 poured outG1632 hisG846 vialG5357 intoG1519 the airG109; andG2532 there cameG1831 a greatG3173 voiceG5456 out ofG575 the templeG3485 of heavenG3772, fromG575 the throneG2362, sayingG3004, It is doneG1096. 18AndG2532 there wereG1096 voicesG5456, andG2532 thundersG1027, andG2532 lightningsG796; andG2532 there wasG1096 a greatG3173 earthquakeG4578, such asG3634 hathG1096 notG3756 beenG1096 sinceG3739 G575 menG444 wereG1096 uponG1909 the earthG1093, so mightyG5082 an earthquakeG4578, and soG3779 greatG3173. 19AndG2532 the greatG3173 cityG4172 was dividedG1096 intoG1519 threeG5140 partsG3313, andG2532 the citiesG4172 of the nationsG1484 fellG4098: andG2532 greatG3173 BabylonG897 came in remembranceG3415 beforeG1799 GodG2316, to giveG1325 to herG846 the cupG4221 of the wineG3631 of the fiercenessG2372 of hisG846 wrathG3709. 20AndG2532 everyG3956 isleG3520 fled awayG5343, andG2532 the mountainsG3735 wereG2147 notG3756 foundG2147. 21AndG2532 there fellG2597 uponG1909 menG444 a greatG3173 hailG5464 out ofG1537 heavenG3772, every stone aboutG5613 the weight of a talentG5006: andG2532 menG444 blasphemedG987 GodG2316 because ofG1537 the plagueG4127 of the hailG5464; forG3754 itsG846 plagueG4127 wasG2076 exceedingG4970 greatG3173.
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary 1 We had in the foregoing chapter the great and solemn preparation that was made for the pouring out of the vials; now we have the performance of that work. Here observe,
I. That, though every thing was made ready before, yet nothing was to be put in execution without an immediate positive order from God; and this he gave out of the temple, answering the prayers of his people, and avenging their quarrel.
II. No sooner was the word of command given than it was immediately obeyed; no delay, no objection made. We find that some of the best men, as Moses and Jeremiah, did not so readily come in and comply with the call of God to their work; but the angels of God excel not only in strength, but in a readiness to do the will of God. God says,
Go your ways, and pour out the vials, and immediately the work is begun. We are taught to pray that the will of God may be done on earth as it is done in heaven. And now we enter upon a series of very terrible dispensations of Providence, of which it is difficult to give the certain meaning or to make the particular application. But in the general it is worth our observation that,
1. We have here a reference and allusion to several of the plagues of Egypt, such as the turning of their waters into blood, and smiting them with boils and sores. Their sins were alike, and so were their punishments.
2. These vials have a plain reference to the seven trumpets, which represented the rise of antichrist; and we learn hence that the fall of the church's enemies shall bear some resemblance to their rise, and that God can bring them down in such ways as they chose to exalt themselves. And the fall of antichrist shall be gradual; as Rome was not built in one day, so neither shall it fall in one day, but it falls by degrees; it shall fall so as to rise no more.
3. The fall of the antichristian interest shall be universal. Every thing that any ways belonged to them, or could be serviceable to them, the premises and all their appurtenances, are put into the writ for destruction: their earth, their air, their sea, their rivers, their cities, all consigned over to ruin, all accursed for the sake of the wickedness of that people. Thus the creation groans and suffers through the sins of men. Now we proceed to,
(1.) The first angel who poured out his vial,
Revel 16:2. Observe, [1.] Where it fell -
upon the earth; that is, say some, upon the common people; others upon the body of the Romish clergy, who were the basis of the papacy, and of an earthly spirit, all carrying on earthly designs. [2.] What it produced -
noisome and grievous sores on all who had the mark of the beast. They had marked themselves by their sin; now God marks them out by his judgments. This sore, some think, signifies some of the first appearances of Providence against their state and interest which gave them great uneasiness, as it discovered their inward distemper and was a token of further evil; the plague - tokens appeared.
(2.)
The second angel poured out his vial; and here we see, [1.] Where it fell -
upon the sea; that is, say some, upon the jurisdiction and dominion of the papacy; others upon the whole system of their religion, their false doctrines, their corrupt glosses, their superstitious rites, their idolatrous worship, their pardons, indulgences, a great conflux of wicked inventions and institutions, by which they maintain a trade and traffic advantageous to themselves, but injurious to all who deal with them. [2.] What it produced: It turned the sea into blood,
as the blood of a dead man, and every living soul died in the sea. God discovered not only the vanity and falsehood of their religion, but the pernicious and deadly nature of it - that the souls of men were poisoned by that which was pretended to be the sure means of their salvation.
(3.) The next angel poured out his vial; and we are told, [1.] Where it fell -
upon the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; that is, say some very learned men, upon their emissaries, and especially the Jesuits, who, like streams, conveyed the venom and poison of their errors and idolatries from the spring-head through the earth. [2.] What effect it had upon them:
It turned them into blood; some think it stirred up Christian princes to take a just revenge upon those that had been the great incendiaries of the world, and had occasioned the shedding of the blood of armies and of martyrs. The following doxology (
Revel 16:5,
Revel 16:6) favours this sense. The instrument that God makes use of in this work is here called
the angel of the waters, who extols the righteousness of God in this retaliation:
They have shed the blood of thy saints, and thou hast given them blood to drink, for they are worthy, to which another angel answered by full consent,
Revel 16:7.
8 In these verses we see the work going on in the appointed order. The fourth angel poured out his vial, and that fell upon the sun; that is, say some, upon some eminent prince of the popish communion, who should renounce their false religion a little while before his utter downfall; and some expect it will be the German emperor. And now what will be the consequence of this? That sun which before cherished them with warm and benign influences shall now grow hot against these idolaters, and shall scorch them. Princes shall use their power and authority to suppress them, which yet will be so far from bringing them to repentance, that it will cause them to curse God and their king, and look upward, throwing out their blasphemous speeches against the God of heaven; they will be hardened to their ruin. The fifth angel poured out his vial,
Revel 16:10. And observe, 1. Where this fell -
upon the seat of the beast, upon Rome itself, the mystical Babylon, the head of the antichristian empire. 2. What effect it had there: The whole kingdom of the beast
was full of darkness and distress. That very city which was the seat of their policy, the source of all their learning, and all their knowledge, and all their pomp and pleasure, now becomes a source of darkness, and pain, and anguish. Darkness was one of the plagues of Egypt, and it is opposed to lustre and honour, and so forebodes the contempt and scorn to which the antichristian interest should be exposed. Darkness is opposed to wisdom and penetration, and forbodes the confusion and folly which the idolaters should discover at that time. It is opposed to pleasure and joy, and so signifies their anguish and vexation of Spirit, when their calamities thus came upon them.
12 The sixth angel poured out his vial; and observe,
I. Where it fell -
upon the great river Euphrates. Some take it literally, for the place where the Turkish power and empire began; and they think this is a prophecy of the destruction of the Turkish monarchy and of idolatry, which they suppose will be effected about the same time with that of the papacy, as another antichrist, and that thereby a way shall be made for the conveniency of the Jews, those princes of the east. Others take it for the river Tiber; for, as Rome is mystical Babylon, Tiber is mystical Euphrates. And when Rome shall be destroyed her river and merchandise must suffer with her.
II. What did this vial produce? 1. The drying up of the river, which furnished the city with wealth, provisions, and all sorts of accommodations. 2. A way is hereby prepared
for the kings of the east. The idolatry of the church of Rome had been a great hindrance both to the conversion of the Jews, who have been long cured of their inclination to idols, and of the Gentiles, who are hardened in their idolatry by seeing that which so much symbolizes with it among those called Christians. It is therefore very probable that the downfall of popery, removing these obstructions, will open a way for both the Jews and other eastern nations to come into the church of Christ. And, if we suppose that Mahomedism shall fall at the same time, there will be still a more open communication between the western and eastern nations, which may facilitate the conversion of the Jews, and of
the fulness of the Gentiles. And when this work of God appears, and is about to be accomplished, no wonder if it occasion another consequence, which is, 3. The last effort of the great dragon; he is resolved to have another push for it, that, if possible, he may retrieve the ruinous posture of his affairs in the world. He is now rallying his forces, recollecting all his spirits, to make one desperate sally before all be lost. This is occasioned by the pouring out of the sixth vial. Here observe, (1.) The instruments he makes use of to engage the powers of the earth in his cause and quarrel:
Three unclean spirits like frogs come forth, one
out of the mouth of the dragon, another
out of the mouth of the beast, and a third
out of the mouth of the false prophet. Hell, the secular power of antichrist, and the ecclesiastical power, would combine to send their several instruments, furnished with hellish malice, with worldly policy, and with religious falsehood and deceit; and these would muster up the devil's forces for a decisive battle. (2.) The means these instruments would use to engage the powers of earth in this war. They would work pretended miracles, the old stratagem of him
whose coming is after the working of Satan, with all power, and signs, and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness, 2Thes 2:9,
2Thes 2:10. Some think that a little before the fall of antichrist the popish pretence of power to work miracles will be revived and will very much amuse and deceive the world. (3.) The field of battle - a place called
Armageddon; that is, say some, the mount of Megiddo, near to which, by a stream issuing thence, Barak overcame Sisera, and all the kings in alliance with him,
Judg 5:19. And in the valley of Megiddo Josiah was slain. This place had been famous for two events of a very different nature, the former very happy for the church of God, the latter very unhappy; but it shall now be the field of the last battle in which the church shall be engaged, and she shall be victorious. This battle required time to prepare for it, and therefore the further account of it is suspended till we come to the nineteenth chapter,
Revel 19:19,
Revel 19:20. (4.) The warning which God gives of this great and decisive trial, to engage his people to prepare for it,
Revel 16:15. It would be sudden and unexpected, and therefore Christians should be clothed, and armed, and ready for it, that they might not be surprised and ashamed. When God's cause comes to be tried, and his battles to be fought, all his people shall be ready to stand up for his interest and be faithful and valiant in his service.
17 Here we have an account of the seventh and last angel pouring forth his vial, contributing his part towards the accomplishment of the downfall of Babylon, which was the finishing stroke. And here, as before, observe,
I. Where this plague fell -
on the air, upon the prince of the power of the air, that is, the devil. His powers were restrained, his policies confounded; he was bound in God's chain: the sword of God was upon his eye and upon his arm; for he, as well as the powers of the earth, is subject to the almighty power of God. He had used all possible means to preserve the antichristian interest, and to prevent the fall of Babylon - all the influence that he has upon the minds of men, blinding their judgments and perverting them, hardening their hearts, raising their enmity to the gospel as high as could be. But now here is a vial poured out upon his kingdom, and he is not able to support his tottering cause and interest any longer.
II. What it produced, 1. A thankful voice from heaven, pronouncing that now the work was done. The church triumphant in heaven saw it, and rejoiced; the church militant on earth saw it, and became triumphant. It is finished. 2. A mighty commotion on the earth - an earthquake, so great as never was before, shaking the very centre, and this ushered in by the usual concomitants of thunder and lightnings. 3. The fall of Babylon, which was divided into three parts,
called the cities of the nations (
Revel 16:19); having had rule over the nations, and taken in the idolatry of the nations, incorporating into her religion something of the Jewish, something of the pagan, and something of the Christian religion, she was as three cities in one. God now remembered this great and wicked city. Though for some time he seemed to have forgotten her idolatry and cruelty, yet now he gives unto her
the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. And this downfall extended further than to the seat of antichrist; it reached from the centre to the circumference; and every island and every mountain, that seemed by nature and situation the most secured, were carried away in the deluge of this ruin.
III. How the antichristian party were affected with it. Though it fell upon them as a dreadful storm, as if the stones of the city, tossed up into the air, came down upon their heads, like hailstones of a talent weight each, yet they were so far from repenting that they blasphemed that God who thus punished them. Here was a dreadful plague of the heart, a spiritual judgment more dreadful and destructive than all the rest. Observe, 1. The greatest calamities that can befall men will not bring them to repentance without the grace of God working with them. 2. Those that are not made better by the judgments of God are always the worse for them. 3. To be hardened in sin and enmity against God by his righteous judgments is a certain token of utter destruction.